Emergency Aid to PH: Tak, DK! What's up, CN?

References to:

- Politiken.dk "Danmark sender mere nødhjælp til Filippinerne"

- Reuters.com "China's meagre aid to the Philippines could dent its image"

Source: Scandinavia and the World

Denmark has increased its emergency aid to the Philippines now totalling 42 million Danish kroner (around 7.5 million US dollars or 350 million pesos). As practiced, this fund shall be channelled through the United Nations and I assume that it will be part of Denmark's regular contribution to development finance, particularly the financing of the Millennium Development Goals. 

Here's a fact that I personally appreciate despite some issues I have with aspects of the Danish foreign policy: Denmark always fulfils its development commitments under the UN Millennium Project to provide at least 0.7% its gross national income (GNI) as aid to developing countries. The same holds true with regard to the other Scandinavian countries Norway and Sweden.

Source: TheEnergyCollective.com

Sorry but I just have to mention something disappointing. While the Philippines should be thankful for any donations and help received, I really am not sure if China — currently the world's second largest economy and world's number one greenhouse gas / carbon dioxide emitter — is making a strong statement or showing its true colours for only giving around 200,000 US dollars (around 8 million pesos) to the Philippines. We could only hope that the Chinese government is not taking the ongoing territorial disputes personally. Anyway, as I used to ask our Chinese trade union counterparts: Where is your supposed 'socialist' or 'communist' sense of solidarity, China?!?!?!

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Updates, as of 14 November 2013:

- The New York Times, "China Increases Aid to Philippines"

- Follow report of the Philippine government on its actions and responses to the crisis, including foreign aid it has been receiving here.